P61-M tax case vs Napoles, husband approved

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday found probable cause to indict businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and her husband for tax evasion.

Napoles, a detained plunder suspect behind the pork barrel scam, and her husband, Jaime, face charges for tax liabilities worth P61.18 million after a preliminary investigation by state prosecutors.

In its 18-page resolution ordering the filing of the cases, the DOJ affirmed the Bureau of Internal Revenue's findings that the Napoles couple violated the National Internal Revenue Code's Section 254 for attempting to evade the payment of taxes for seven years.

Probable cause was also found against the respondents for violating Section 255 in failing to file their income tax return, or ITR, for three years.

Last week, their daughter, Jeane Napoles, posted a P50,000 bail for P17-million tax evasion charges and personally appeared before the Court of Tax Appeals. - with reports from Edu Punay